Man, 43, detained as large fire breaks out in hospital in Staffordshire
Written by News on 12/02/2019
A 43-year-old man has been detained on suspicion of arson after a large fire broke out in a hospital in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
Images from the scene show huge flames engulfing the George Bryan Medical Centre, in the Sir Robert Peel Hospital.
Police said the building was evacuated and no one was injured.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “All occupants and staff have been evacuated from the centre and are being transferred to other local medical centres.”
The man held by police is from Tamsworth.
Police were called to the scene at 9.15pm.
Staffordshire Fire Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service are working with police and there are 10 fire engines on the scene.
A spokesman from the fire service said there were reports of one patient absconding during the commotion caused by the fire. Police and fire officials were unable to confirm if any missing patient had been located.
He said the fire was “severe” having spread through “quite a lot of the building involved”.
He added: “We’re trying to sacrifice part of the building and let that burn to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the hospital.”
Christopher Pincher, the MP for Tamworth, said he was “very concerned” by the fire.
“I very much hope that there are no injuries and wish all the best to our local fire crews, Police and emergency services,” he said.
:: Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting 796 of 11 February 2019.
(c) Sky News 2019: Man, 43, detained as large fire breaks out in hospital in Staffordshire
